Henwood Park's under 13s were crowned unbeaten premiers on Saturday after overcoming a spirited Tumut Eagles at Equex Centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Hawks were the only team in the competitive age groups to complete the year without a loss, however they weren't the only side to save their best for last on a big day of Football Wagga junior grand finals.
Tolland Lobos caused an upset in the under 12s.
Tumut Black turned the tables on Wagga United in the under 14s.
And Lake Albert Red went one better than last year to claim the under 15-16s title.
A hat-trick of goals to striker Ashton Richardson capped a brilliant team performance for Henwood Park's 13s, who struggled to field a team at the start of the season but finished it with a 4-2 grand final victory against Tumut.
"I'm stoked with the boys. They did save their best team game until last. They definitely deserved it and went through undefeated," coach Dave McGowan said.
"It was a worry at the start of the year when we only had 10 players and then a bloke came and joined us and he broke his wrist before we played a game."
Under-age players Jesse and Joel Everingham and Zac Wilde helped out all year and shared in the rewards of an impressive team effort.
The Hawk's league-leading goalscorer - and player of the year - Ashton Richardson thrived on his teammates' contributions up the ground, to score two first half goals and one in the second, set up by midfielders Jesse Everingham, Felix McIntyre and Isaac McCormack.
Tumut's Seamus McMahon played strongly and kept them in it with a goal in each half, ensuring they were never down by more than two. But McIntyre's goal sealed back to back premierships for Henwood Park.
McGowan said he couldn't have been more proud of their team effort with every player rising to the occasion, beginning at the back with Blake Twitt leading a strong defensive effort.
The dynamic McCormack was named player of the match ahead of the hard-working and dangerous McIntyre.
Tumut were gallant and their runners-up result was reward in itself for a team that battled early and was on the bottom of the ladder after the first few games.
The Eagles club went one better in the under 14s, where Tumut Black overpowered Wagga United Swifts 3-1.
Nathan Wright led Tumut's efforts, winning player-of-the-match for his efforts and was afterwards also recognised as the player of the year for the age group.
It was sweet revenge for Tumut who had finished second on the ladder and gone down to Swifts 4-2 in their semi-final two weeks ago. The teams had shared a win each in the regular season and, eventually, a win each in finals but it was Tumut who delivered when it mattered most.
That completed a tough day out for Wagga United, whose previously unbeaten Swifts under 12s also lost in the grand final.
Tolland Lobos continued their late season surge to claim a dramatic 2-1 win against a Swifts team that had set the pace all season, winning every game.
Billie Burns was named player of the match for the Lobos.
They'd lost their last two games leading into finals, to Swifts and Wagga United Crows. But then reversed the result against the Crows in their semi-final, knocked out stablemates Tolland Wolves in the prelim and then knocked over the favourites in the grand final.
In the under 15-16 grand final, Lake Albert Red enjoyed the success that had eluded them last year when they overcame South Wagga 3-2 in a thriller.
South Wagga was the only team to get on top of Lake Albert Red in the home-and-away season but the Sharks confirmed their standing as the top team with revenge in the semi-final and the ultimate victory in the decider in the oldest junior age group.
"It was perfect," coach Laith Gardner said.
"It was a very tough game. South Wagga, they defended well. And they had two penalties but we survived. The boys played very good."
South Wagga scored the opener in the first half which sparked the Sharks into action. Lake Albert Red replied with three in a row to be in a commanding position.
South Wagga missed a penalty opportunity in the first half but scored after their second when Lake Albert 'keeper Mazin Sulaiman saved a shot but couldn't stop the rebound.
It set up a dramatic finish, particularly with seven minutes of injury time, but Lake Albert Red prevailed.
Centre midfielder Aeham Osman was named player of the match for Lake Albert Red, while Eric Gardner was very impressive as a dangerous presence up forward before going back to defence late in the game.
Coach Gardner, who's daughter Maryam captained the side, said it was great reward for hard work and improvement over two years.
"They came second last year and they won it this year, they did great," Gardner said.
JUNIOR GRAND FINALS
Under 12: Tolland Lobos d Wagga United Swifts 2-1
U12 Player of the match: Billie Burns (Tolland)
Under 13: Henwood Park d Tumut 4-2
U13 Player of the match: Isaac McCormack (Henwood Park)
Under 14: Tumut Black d Wagga United Swifts 3-1
U14 Player of the match: Nathan Wright (Tumut)
Under 15-16: Lake Albert Red d South Wagga 3-2
U15-16 Player of the match: Aeham Osman (Lake Albert)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS:
JUNIORS:
Under 12: Suah Leone (Henwood Park)
Under 13: Ashton Richardson (Henwood Park)
Under 14: Nathan Wright (Tumut)
Under 15-16: Shaun Bryder (Lake Albert)
Under 12-14 Girls: Rylee Steele
SENIORS:
Nankivell Cup: Ryan McKenzie (Henwood Park)
Blake Trophy: Julian Vieira (Wagga United) and Lucas Myers (Lake Albert)
Madden Trophy: Laura Atkins (Young)
Gardiner Shield: Lewis Crowley (Henwood Park) and Shaun Bryder (Lake Albert)
Leonard Cup: Kirrilee Cameron (Cootamundra) and Bernadette Blake (Tolland)
Pascoe Cup: Patrick Hislop (Young)
Gwen Gardiner Award: Kayden Hooper
Outstanding Achievement: Andrew Manton
REFEREES OF THE YEAR:
Junior: Angus Smith
Youth: Amelia Hanson and Ben Nosworthy
Senior: Tarran Richard